The Scarred

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The Scarred
Origin Anaheim, California
California
Flag of the United States United States
Genre(s) Punk Rock
Years active 2003-Current
Label(s) Punk Core Records
Associated acts Cheap Sex, Vengeance 77
Website www.scarred.com
Members
Justin Willits
Isha Rose Willits
Matt "Monkey" Hatcher
Ben 9000 (Tour Drummer)
Former members
Dan Mulvey, Andy White
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The Scarred are a punk rock band from Anaheim, California formed in 2003, on the New York-based label Punk Core records. They are notable in the punk rock scene for being one of the only old school punk bands active from Anaheim, as well as bridging the sound between modern street punk and early, 1977 influenced punk rock[1].

Contents

[edit] History

The Scarred formed in 2003 with former members of the Discarded who had gone to Texas to help someone with their band and inadvertently joined a "Christian Cult"[2]. Once they realized this, however, they returned to California. Suffering from anxiety and panic disorders, Justin Willits, Matt "Monkey" Hatcher, and Isha Rose Willits formed The Scarred. The three had been in bands before and quickly set to work playing live shows with such Punk Rock notables as Naked Aggression, Menace[3], Cheap Sex, The Skeptix, and more.

The band recorded a demo in the back room of a radio station, and sent it out to underground Zines, where it quickly received good reviews, including California's legendary MRR.[4][5] Capitalizing on their good reviews, the band decided to record a full-length album and entered 459 Audio studios in Monrovia, California to record their debut album. In the studio, their original guitar player Dan Mulvey did not show up the sessions, forcing Justin to take up guitar and vocals. When Dan decided to stay home with his girlfriend and quit the band just before tour, Justin took on double duties full time. In February 2004, the band finally released their first album, "Repression" before heading out on their first U.S. Tour. Over the next year they toured the country relentlessly[6], quickly selling out the thousand copies of their debut CD and gaining some attention in the Punk media[7][8][9] not only for their albums, but for their live show.[10] In June, 2004 they were reviewed in Skratch Magazine's Orange County Issue,[11], and were included just two months before in Skratch Magazine's Photo Issue[12]

The quick sales of "Repression" led to the band entering the studio to record a split seven-inch with New Jersey punk band Void Control. It was released in early 2005, quickly earning the band more good reviews.[13][14][15]. The split-EP was also released on limited Coke Bottle Green colored Vinyl, which sold out immediately and has since become difficult to find.

In August 2005, the band was offered a record deal with New York's legendary street-punk label. According to the band, they were thrilled to receive the offer, as they were in debt, on the verge of bankruptcy, and would have had no other option but to end the band.[16][17]. At the urging of the label, The Scarred quickly rushed to a rent-by-the-hour practice studio in downtown Anaheim and had a live set of three songs recorded by Lewis Ingham, who included it in Punk Core records' first DVD, "Pure Punk Rock" which was released March 7, 2006[18]. Unfortunately, the master copy of the DVD had been scratched over the Scarred's set, causing the audio and video on the last segments to skew. Justin would later comment that they regretted recording for the DVD at all, due to the rushed and comparatively low quality of their segment, but that they were honored to be included and featured alongside Punk Legends such as The Casualties, The Virus, and Defiance, among others.[19][20] According to the Spring 2006 Edition of Loud, Fast, Rules! Magazine, which featured a large, multi-page spread about the Scarred, the band had been recording songs over the last nine months one session at a time as budget allowed. With Punk Core's help, they were able to finish the album in December 2005, at which point it was set for release in April, 2006.[21][22]

After an October tour, which included both the debut of new rhythm guitar player Andy White of KTP, and also his dismissal after the tour was over, the band set out on their second Clampdown US tour with friends and Los Angeles street-punk locals, Destruct.[23][24]. The date of their Washington, DC show was canceled due to a stabbing at the venue the previous night, but on April 4, 2006 the Scarred's second album No Solution was released in stores. It had been streaming on the Punk Core website, one of the first of Punk Core's releases to be streamed in its entirety[25]. The album was immediately received with good reviews from all over the United States and even Europe.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Skratch Magazine praised its diversity in a feature in the May Issue of that year, in which, oddly, Justin hinted at his disappointment in not being able to see the album released on Cassette tape, an obsolete format.[38]

The Scarred wasted no time, hitting the road nearly as soon as they returned from their April tour. The Scarred took two weeks off and headed back on the road to support infamous label-mates Cheap Sex on what would become their final tour. Cheap Sex was arguably the most popular active band on the label, and the shows did well, but the tour was plagued by arguments. The Scarred's drummer, Isha, was also pregnant the entire tour with her and husband and singer Justin Willits' first child. At the end of the tour, The Scarred released cover artwork from their forthcoming record, only to cancel recording sessions due to fatigue and lack of funds. They played only a few shows during the remainder of Isha's pregnancy, including one with Cheap Sex's drummer at the Allen Theatre.[39][40] On March 21, 2007 their baby was born, and The Scarred announced via Myspace that they would be returning to work soon, starting with the third annual Clampdown Tour in June and July of 2007, which would feature Brad Vengeance of Georgia rock band Vengeance 77 (Bouncing Betty records) on the drums while Isha was still recovering. However, despite fans eagerly expecting their arrival, an accident forced The Scarred to drop off the tour[41] literally the day before their departure, as Vocals/Guitar player Justin Willits broke his leg at the last practice. Tour Drummer Brad Vengeance had to fly home early to continue the tour with his band, Vengeance 77. This came as a huge blow to The Scarred's fans, who had been frustrated with the first gap in the Scarred's rigorous touring regimen. After several months of healing, The Scarred recently announced they had found another temporary drummer, announced upcoming shows, and posted several Studio Updates on YouTube.com nearly simultaneously. They are currently booking tours again and awaiting their return both with an upcoming November tour, as well as a new album expected in 2008.[42][43][44]

[edit] Discography

Albums
  • Repression (Shogun 77 Records/Self Release, February 2004)
  • No Solution (April 4, 2006, Punk Core Records)
  • Repression Re-Issue w/ Live and Rare tracks (2007, Bouncing Betty Records)
EPs
  • Split 7 (Split 7" with New Jersey's Void Control. 2005 Puke N Vomit Records)

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Caustic Truths Magazine Issue #104 Page 23
  2. ^ Under the Volcano Magazine #91 page 31
  3. ^ Destroy All Magazine, November 2003
  4. ^ MaximumRockNRoll Magazine Issue #253
  5. ^ 100 Punks Zine, December 2004 Issue.
  6. ^ Skratch Magazine issue #123
  7. ^ Punk Planet Magazine issue #62
  8. ^ NoFrontTeeth Magazine, UK, October 2004 Issue and Web Feature
  9. ^ Skratch Magazine Issue #98
  10. ^ Skratch Magazine Issue #101
  11. ^ Skratch Magazine issue #100
  12. ^ Skratch Magazine Photo Issue #99
  13. ^ Slug & Lettuce Issue #83
  14. ^ Razorcake Magazine
  15. ^ MaximumRockNRoll Magazine #267 August, 2005
  16. ^ Loud, Fast, Rules! Magazine, The Scarred Feature, Issue #3
  17. ^ Skratch Magazine Issue #115
  18. ^ Punk News Article - http://www.punknews.org/article/16028
  19. ^ Customer reviews, PunkUtopia.com
  20. ^ Punknews.org | Pure Punk Rock DVD street date and trailer
  21. ^ Advertising in Under the Volcano Issue #90
  22. ^ Advertising in Skratch Magazine issues 120, 121
  23. ^ Press Release - http://www.punknews.org/article/14107
  24. ^ PunkNews Article http://www.punknews.org/article/16034
  25. ^ Punknews.org | Stream The Scarred's "No Solution"
  26. ^ Eye Candy Girls UK Pinup Online Magazine feature. Eyecandygirls.co.uk
  27. ^ TWO reviews both in Under the Volcano #91
  28. ^ Read Magazine (Readmag.com) Editor's Choice April/May 2006
  29. ^ Loud, Fast, Rules! Issue #4
  30. ^ Ska, Punk, and Other Junk Zine (skapunkandotherjunk.com)
  31. ^ Review on towerrecords.com
  32. ^ Saint Rocknroll Zine (SaintRocknRoll.com)
  33. ^ NeuFutur Magazine - NeuFutur.com
  34. ^ Riot77 Zine Issue #10
  35. ^ Altercation Magazine #10
  36. ^ Razorcake magazine, issue #32
  37. ^ Caustic Truths Magazine Issue #104
  38. ^ Skratch Magazine, May 2006 Issue
  39. ^ TheAllenTheater.com
  40. ^ TheScarred.com News Archive
  41. ^ Injury Forces The Scarred To Cancel Tour - PlugInMusic.com News
  42. ^ YouTube - thescarred's Channel
  43. ^ The Scarred official Myspace www.Myspace.com/Scarred
  44. ^ The Scarred official Website http://www.TheScarred.com